Stenson wins duel with Mickelson to claim British Open

Stenson’s eight-under was only the second 63 in the final round to win a major, after American Johnny Miller achieved the score at the 1973 US Open.

Henrik Stenson takes a one-stroke lead into the final round of the British Open, looking to become the first male golfer from Sweden to win a major golf championship.

The Swede, who had never won a major before, started the day at Royal Troon one shot ahead of Phil Mickelson.

Stenson, after dropping a shot on 11, pulled away with birdies on No. 14, 15 and 16, before clinching the tournament with a birdie on No. 18. That had also been the major championship record until Day broke it in 2015. It was high drama and great theater, as always when golf’s most famous lefthander has a chance to win a major. I feel like it’s definitely heading in the right direction.

Spare a thought for five-time major victor Mickelson, aiming to become the oldest victor of the Open in the modern era. The final pairing pushed it to yet another level during the final round on Sunday as Stenson and Mickelson carded the two best rounds on Sunday.

Adding to the heartbreak was the fact that Mickelson probably could not have played much better.

Bidding to become the oldest Open victor since Old Tom Morris in 1867, Mickelson was gallant with a flawless 65 featuring four birdies and an eagle – but still unable to land a fairytale sixth career major at 46.

“Me, I said it yesterday, myself, Rory and Jordan were kind of on the bad side.it may be unlucky, but you’ve got to embrace it and try to play good”.

The top-ranked Ko made a 10-foot birdie putt on the fourth extra hole after Jutanugarn and Lee ran into trouble.

At 18 that triumph was confirmed with another lengthy putt sunk to seal the lowest overall score at a major. I don’t have a point where I can look back and say, ‘I should have done this or I should have done that.’ I played a bogey-free round in the final round of a major.

The turning point in the round was when Stenson sank a 50-foot birdie putt on 15 to take a two-shot lead. Mickelson climbed back into the lead on 11 and scrambled to an all-world par on 12, but Stenson, better known for his ball-striking prowess than his putter, caught fire coming home. Stenson bogeyed to relinquish his advantage, but recovered with consecutive birdies of his own. The PGA Championship begins in less than two weeks at Baltusrol, where Mickelson won that title in 2005. “Played close to flawless golf and got beat”. “For some reason I felt like it was my time – and it was”. “I’m disappointed to come in second but I’m happy for Henrik”.

Although the weather could not match the heatwave for the epic contest between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at nearby Turnberry in 1977, the golf certainly revived memories of the “Duel in the Sun” as the final pair combined for 13 birdies and an eagle.

Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson put on a show for the ages in Sunday’s final round of the British Open. As the pressure mounted, they both got better.

“It’s not like I have decades of opportunities left to win majors, so each one means a lot to me”. But I’m happy with everything. Stricker is 49 and beat everyone not named Mickelson, Stenson and J.B. Holmes.

The Swede won his first major in his 42nd attempt, becoming only the ninth player to capture his first major after turning 40. Beyond the score, the measure of his performance was that he putted for a birdie on every hole Sunday in a mild wind off the Irish Sea. It wasn’t just Open records, and it wasn’t just Stenson setting them, either.

They matched pars on only six of the 18 holes.

“I want to thank my wife, my family, my team, all the hard work has helped to make this possible and my caddie Gareth Lord”.